Unexplained Exit At La Grange Park Library

LA GRANGE PARK, IL – On its website, the La Grange Park Public Library announced a public event in September celebrating Juanita Harrell's first six months as its executive director.

The item said she was settling into her new role. And it proclaimed her as successful in getting a long-awaited new library building project off the ground.

"Let’s congratulate Juanita on a job well done, thus far, and wish her our best for the future," the announcement said.

She had little future left at the library. Six days after the event, the library board appointed an interim executive director. No reason was given publicly for Harrell's exit.

The interim director is longtime library employee Gabriel Oppenheim. He was given a salary of $95,000, according to meeting minutes.

In response to a Patch inquiry, the library board's president, Julie Gies, said in an email Monday, "(T)he library does not comment on personnel matters nor are we currently searching for a permanent executive director."

Patch has filed a public records request with the library for more information on Harrell's departure.

Before her La Grange Park job, Harrell was the director of the DuPage Law Library for 2½ years, according to a news release when she was hired in La Grange Park.

Before the law library, Harrell was the health and wellness librarian at the Oak Park Public Library.

During its current construction project, the La Grange Park library is temporarily in an old church building at 21 N. Catherine Ave.